Seminoles’ RB arrested, misses court appearance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Florida State running back James Wilder Jr. is out of jail on a $500 bond after being arrested for the third time in less than a year.

Wilder, who has rushed for 795 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Seminoles, turned himself into authorities Sunday at the Leon County Jail after a warrant for his arrest was issued. He failed to make a court appearance on a charge of driving with a suspended license. That date is now set for Jan. 24.

Florida State athletic department spokesman Elliott Finebloom said Monday that coach Jimbo Fisher is aware of Wilder's latest brush with the law. Fisher was in Tallahassee, but unavailable for comment. Tallahassee attorney Tim Jansen, who has previously represented Wilder, did not immediately return a message for comment on the player's latest run-in with authorities.

Wilder, 20, spent a few days in the Leon County Jail in June after testing positive for alcohol, which was within legal parameters, while taking part in a work day program for a previous incident. The work day resulted from a plea agreement earlier this year on a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence in February 2012. Deputies went to arrest a 20-year-old woman for missing a court appearance when Wilder stepped between the deputy and the woman, a former girlfriend, and pushed the deputy, according to the police report.

He is the son of James Wilder, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' all-time career rushing leader.

The 6-2, 225-pound Wilder's role increased at midseason after starting tailback Chris Thompson suffered a season-ending knee injury. Wilder then shared tailback duties with Devonta Freeman for the remainder of the season. Wilder finished the 2012 season as the Seminoles with 635 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. He also caught 19 passes for 136 yards and two more TDs.